I've ridden bikes for almost 40 years now and have ridden BMW's for the last 25. I had a 2002 BMW GS Adventure for 5 years and wanted to go smaller. A 650 sounded good and I would have probably bought a BMW 650 but they had just quit making them and it would be a while until the Twin 650 would come out. I bought my Versys thinking I would just have it until the Beemers came out. WRONG!! This is the most fun bike to ride that I have ever owned. Great revvvy power, great handling and bullet-proof reliable. What more could I want? It's nice to have a bike that isn't a service whore like the Beemers. Just keep clean oil and a filter in it and that's about it. God, the money and time I spent on service for BMW's over the years, I could be retired now!
I love BMW's still though and may have one again but this Versys I'm going to have a while maybe a real long while!

I've had my ER6F (650R) for a few months now and I absolutely love it, but a piece of me is thinking maybe the Versys would be better. I have to say I prefer the look of the ER6F but I think the practicalities of the Versys might just suit me better.

I was riding into work this morning alongside a black Versys (my ER6F is black) and it was interesting to see them side by side. Obviously the riding positions are very different but it's funny to think we have the same engine in there. I think we were bonding

Spent a few days wandering around the Olympic Peninsula-ended up being a lot of off road thanks to my ace GPS TomTom.
Food first, might be out there for days! What else would a Brit eat?
Loaded ready to go, do I really need all this crap???
Yep, looks a lot from whatever way you look at it.
Good place for lunch, nice view and a bit of space to let..........
The logging trucks roar by. Empty they get up to 50mph+, you have to take great care on the blind corners
Had to follow this guy for a few miles-it creates even more dust when they have the slab sides. Primitive is a good word.
Probably need to change my air-filter after this.
This was very steep twisty and with big gravel 1.5 to 2"plus.
Did I mention how good my almost racing slick Michelin Pilot Road Powers are on this stuff..........thought not. Actually in all honesty it wasn't to bad. As long as I didn't get up too much speed over 35-40 and let kept the handle bars loose I was fine.
Logging improves the view, but that's about all you can say about it. Very remote 30-40miles to nearest paved road-just me and the trucks.
Did I mention remote?
My Viagra friends will remember this place-just a photo op, didn't have lunch here.
Bloody hell, roads are getting narrower, didn't meet any trucks on this stretch thank goodness.
Getting back to civilization an Oyster factory-well couple of old huts really.
Got Marsh?
Got mud?
Got more mud?
Where's the bloody sea gone??
OK, that's the closest I'll ever get to a trip report. Had a blast except it pissed with rain this morning and got me, my tent and all my stuff really wet. Only rain for about 2 weeks, but its warming back up and will be over 90 which is very unusual for us in the Pacific Northwet.
Machog

I have been reevaluating my riding needs. Here is what I came up with.
1. I don't need to go mach 2 anymore(at least not often).
2. I don't carry a pillion very often.
3. I like the ergos of the adventure style bikes.
4. I don't need to cross the Ganges.
5. I want a bike that I can ride more than wrench.
6. I like uniqueness.
7. Hard Bags.
8. I want it to be fun.

So I'm all set to sell my BMW 800ST or trade it if need be and buy a WEE Strom. Then I stumble across this thread and get to reading.

Read a little more, Givi bags available. Huh, how bout that. So I go look. Find one in blue sitting right next to an '09 Wee. Go there twice, can't even get someone to talk to me. F these folks I'm out of here. Stick to the plan.

I keep reading about the Wee, But also keep thinking how dated it looked next to the Versys. Click back over here. What?? It comes in lime green. I like it, I shouldn't, but, I do. Read more. Everybody seems to like both bikes. So thats a wash. I go to my local shop and don't you know he has a green one on the floor. I leaf through the catalog and see the color matched bags.

Almost wrote it up right there. Plan is out the window. Asked if I came over with a wad of cash ready to buy if I could test ride it?? Sure They say.

I have been reevaluating my riding needs. Here is what I came up with.
1. I don't need to go mach 2 anymore(at least not often).
2. I don't carry a pillion very often.
3. I like the ergos of the adventure style bikes.
4. I don't need to cross the Ganges.
5. I want a bike that I can ride more than wrench.
6. I like uniqueness.
7. Hard Bags.
8. I want it to be fun.

So I'm all set to sell my BMW 800ST or trade it if need be and buy a WEE Strom. Then I stumble across this thread and get to reading.

If the Versys had been available when I bought the Wee, I probably would have got the Versys instead. My Sis has one, my buddy has one, I think they are frikkin' neat bikes - lighter than the Strom, not so subject to sidewinds, and I like how they look. Some of the plastic trim on the sides is a bit cheesy, but that's all I could find to bitch about.

I have been reevaluating my riding needs. Here is what I came up with.
1. I don't need to go mach 2 anymore(at least not often).
2. I don't carry a pillion very often.
3. I like the ergos of the adventure style bikes.
4. I don't need to cross the Ganges.
5. I want a bike that I can ride more than wrench.
6. I like uniqueness.
7. Hard Bags.
8. I want it to be fun.

So I'm all set to sell my BMW 800ST or trade it if need be and buy a WEE Strom. Then I stumble across this thread and get to reading.

Read a little more, Givi bags available. Huh, how bout that. So I go look. Find one in blue sitting right next to an '09 Wee. Go there twice, can't even get someone to talk to me. F these folks I'm out of here. Stick to the plan.

I keep reading about the Wee, But also keep thinking how dated it looked next to the Versys. Click back over here. What?? It comes in lime green. I like it, I shouldn't, but, I do. Read more. Everybody seems to like both bikes. So thats a wash. I go to my local shop and don't you know he has a green one on the floor. I leaf through the catalog and see the color matched bags.

Almost wrote it up right there. Plan is out the window. Asked if I came over with a wad of cash ready to buy if I could test ride it?? Sure They say.

I blame this on you folks. you have screwed my plan up royally.

Thanks,

You are welcome Sir. As for your plans, plan on spending a lot more time on your bike. Oh yeah, you can farkle the shit out of it, maybe even take it to a track day. Won't find too many Veestroms or BMW 800's on the track.

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I can always beat the paramedics to my crashes by at least 10 mins.

Yeah Machog I though I was going to be over loaded for my 3 weeker starting on the 13th but as you have it I, may be taking less ... Machog is a wealth of knowledge about what the Versys can do , Ive read alot of his threads in the http://kawasakiversys.com/ forum

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A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice. Bill Cosby

9 Weeks and a new rear shoe later I am satisfied with all roughly 7k I spent on this 09 Green Versys. I have 5700 miles and hope to end fall around 14k. Improvements, well the Avon distanzia rear (and front this week), the Hepco engine guards, a fender extender for the front, some suspension adjustments (thanks Kawasi) two oil changes, GIVI E360s and I am smiling ear to ear. Looking forward to meeting some of you guys on this eastern versys ride 12 and 12th of June.

Just thought I would chime in on the Versys... I have a 2009 Green and love it. The single best mod to any bike yet was the CalSci XL windshield I put on this thing which dramatically improved the ride at highway speeds! Also put on Suzuki VStrom 1000 handguards which went on pretty slick, as well as the Kawasaki luggage rack to mount up the rear trunk. Super cool.

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